Andrea Szabo

Andrea Szabo was born on July 12, 1966, in Paramatta, Australia. Her parents, Maria, a nurses' aide from Holland and Andras, a cleaner from Hungary, arrived separately in Australia in 1956 and met whilst working at a Sydney hospital. During her formative years, Szabo's interest in theatre grew and it became clear that performance art was her thing. She joined a local drama group at 14 and appeared in school productions in both primary and high school. Didn't we all? After completing a Bachelor of Arts (Performing Arts) in 1989, Szabo scored an unexpected hit with her self-developed cabaret. Known for her comedic talent and singing voice, Szabo captured the attention of Sydney production company run by Olivia Brown, who took her under their wing to nurture her talent. After spending time on the road with a theatre education program, Szabo moved to the Gold Coast to establish a booking agency for wedding music and events. She became a well-sought-after singer, after she played numerous 5 star establishments which included a residency at the 5-star Uluru resort cocktail bar for 2 months. In 1997, Szabo was struck down with a mystery illness requiring brain surgery to find a diagnosis. Needing to rest, this temporary setback saw Szabo take time away from the performing arts. However, with a re-ignited passion, she eventually returned to the stage as a director and writer. From 2003-2005, Szabo developed a performing arts program for people with disabilities, securing Government funding and recognition. Around this time, she also had her own radio show on the local 101.3 Tweed Heads station. After a few years, she pivoted from community theatre to teaching singing and heading numerous bands. In 2006 she created an all-female choir called Sing Sisters, which is still in operation 16 years later! After encouragement from her keen audiences, she made a CD of jazz standards in 2007. Several years later in 2013, Szabo collaborated with Georgie Leach (exRose Tattoo) to record a blues album. They also wrote, produced, and arranged an album of originals titled 'All Stitched Up' which received much recognition and airplay. Over the following years, Szabo intermittently returned to the stage, assuming singing, directing, and writing roles for various projects, festivals, and performances. However, from 2016 to 2019 her medical condition progressed, rendering her physically challenged. Despite these setbacks, she never stopped performing and in 2022 she landed a role in Irreverent. Her debut performance as Bev Duncan left audiences amazed, with one audience member (Martin Day) announcing 'I can't believe it took so long for someone to throw you up on the screen. You're a natural-born performer!'